Bookkeeper salary in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area
Hiring a bookkeeper costs less in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area than in Virginia or the country as a whole. The median is $46,590 a year1: 9.7% below the Virginia statewide median of $51,620 and 8.1% below the US median of $50,670. Among US areas it comes in at #322 of 521. About 1,010 bookkeepers work here, 3% of the Virginia total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | $32,540 | $46,590 | $61,510 | |
| Virginia | $36,610 | $51,620 | $72,860 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area earns $38,530–$52,000. The top tenth earns $61,510 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,470 wide, against $17,810 across Virginia and $17,950 nationally: employers in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,540 | $2,712 | $15.64 | $41,987 |
| 25th percentile | $38,530 | $3,211 | $18.52 | $49,716 |
| Median | $46,590 | $3,882 | $22.40 | $60,116 |
| 75th percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25.00 | $67,097 |
| 90th percentile | $61,510 | $5,126 | $29.57 | $79,368 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,060 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,410, or about $6,981 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area, and the Virginia statewide median of $51,620 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,526 to the $46,590 median and brings it to $60,116 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for bookkeepers we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($46,670) and HR assistants ($46,320). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,870.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +11.5% | 400 | |
| Paralegal | +0.2% | 140 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,010 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.6% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.4% | 660 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area (-8.1%), between accountants (-7.6%) and HR assistants (-8.5%). The typical role here is at -14.8%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 11.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area, 7.5% across Virginia and 8.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $45,270 in the Northeast Virginia nonmetro area to $52,680 in Charlottesville, a gap of $7,410 a year. Of the 3 areas in Virginia with more bookkeepers than the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Roanoke, VA ($46,420).
| Area | Median | vs the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | +1.1% | 500 | |
| Lynchburg, VA | +1.0% | 890 | |
| Northwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | +0.2% | 540 | |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,010 | |
| Roanoke, VA | -0.4% | 1,230 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 820 | |
| Northeast Virginia (Nonmetro) | -2.8% | 490 |
the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area is #275 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Virginia, Grand Island and Amarillo pay just above the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area and Lima and Youngstown-Warren just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +21.7% | 1,020 | jobs | |
| Amarillo, TX | +0.1% | 1,230 | pay | |
| Grand Island, NE | +0.0% | 440 | pay | |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,010 | ||
| Lima, OH | -0.0% | 430 | pay | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -0.2% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -2.6% | 1,020 | jobs | |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -10.9% | 1,020 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro)?
About $60,116 a year at the median, or $5,010 a month: $46,590 in pay plus about $13,526 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area?
The median was $46,590 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,540, the 90th $61,510, and the middle half earned $38,530 to $52,000.
Is the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Virginia for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $46,590 against $51,620 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area at $46,700, the next down Roanoke at $46,420.
How many bookkeepers work in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,010 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Virginia total of 31,990. 3 areas in Virginia have more; the closest in size is Roanoke, with about 1,230.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an HR assistant in the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area?
Yes: $270 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,590 and $46,320.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.